Vietnamese Beef Marinade Thit Bò Uop Food

VIETNAMESE BEEF BALLS - (THIT BO VIEN)

Steps:

• In a shallow dish, mix the fish sauce, potato starch, baking powder, sugar and white pepper.
• Slice the meat into 1/8-inch-thick pieces.
• Add to the marinade and mix well.
• Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
• Before proceeding, transfer the meat to the freezer for 30 minutes.
• Work with half of the beef at a time; do not overload the work bowl.
• In a food processor, combine half of the beef with half of the garlic and sesame oil.
• Process to a completely smooth but stiff paste, about 3 minutes.
• Stop occasionally to scrape down the sides of the work bowl.
• The completed paste should spring back to the touch.
• Transfer the paste to a bowl.
• Process the remaining beef, garlic and sesame oil the same way.
• Rub some vegetable oil on one hand, and grab a handful of the meat paste and close your hand into a fist, squeezing out a small portion of the mixture, about 1 teaspoon, between your thumb and index finger.
• Keep rolling and squeezing the same portion between your thumb and index finger until you obtain a smooth rounded ball.
• Scoop out the meatball with an oiled spoon, and repeat until all of the paste is used.
• Pour 1 inch of water into a wok or wide pot, place a steamer rack or bamboo steamer over the water.
• Arrange the meatballs without crowding in a single layer on the rack.
• Cover and steam for 5 minutes.
• Serve as an appetizer with chili sauce.
• These beef balls can also be added to a well-seasoned beef broth, sprinkled with chopped scallions and white pepper and served as a soup (noodles may be added).
• Note: These meatballs may be frozen.
• Thaw them thoroughly, then steam or simmer in boiling water until just heated through.

BO NUONG XA

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, mix the sugar, soy sauce, pepper, garlic, lemon grass, and sesame seeds. Place the meat in the dish, and stir to coat. Cover, and refrigerate for 4 hours.
• Preheat grill for high heat. Discard marinade, and thread meat onto skewers accordion style.
• Brush grill grate with oil, and discard marinade. Arrange skewers on the grill. Cook 5 minutes per side. Serve hot from skewers, or remove from skewers and serve on lettuce leaves. Garnish with cilantro, mint, basil, and sliced green onions.

ASIAN GARLIC BEEF CUBES (VIETNAMESE BO LUC LAC OR SHAKING BEEF)

Steps:

• Put beef cubes in a container with a lid. Whisk 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons oyster sauce, 4 minced garlic cloves, wine, 1 teaspoon fish sauce, 1 teaspoon black pepper, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and sesame oil together in a bowl until marinade is well mixed; pour over beef. Allow beef to marinate, 10 to 30 minutes.
• Whisk 1 tablespoon fish sauce, lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon black pepper together in a bowl until dipping sauce is well mixed.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a wok or large skillet over high heat; add beef and marinade. Cook and stir beef mixture, 2 tablespoons oyster sauce, and 4 cloves minced garlic together in hot oil until beef is cooked through and sauce begins to thicken, 5 to 10 minutes. Adding garlic over several times during cooking will produce a better mix of flavors.
• Serve beef alongside dipping sauce.

THIT BO CUON LA LUOP (VIETNAMESE BEEF IN GRAPE LEAVES)

Steps:

• Rinse grape leaves in hot water; drain.
• Mix beef with garlic, 2 tsp nuoc mam, ginger root, cilantro, 1/2 tsp sugar, dash black pepper, and green onion.
• Place generous tablespoonful on grape leaf, and roll envelope-style.
• For sauce, mix together 4 tbsp fish sauce, 1/2 cup water, 2 tbsp vinegar, 2 tsp sugar, the red pepper, and the 2 cloves of minced garlic.
• Stir in 3 tbsp shredded ginger and 2 tbsp shredded carrots to the sauce.
• Place on skewers and grill (If using wooden skewers, soak in water for 20-30 minutes before using), or broil, 6" from heat for 10-12 minutes.
• Serve rolls with dipping sauce.